Food service workers at Emeril’s Kitchen, Starbucks and several other concessions at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner have reached the first ever union contract deal with operator HMS Host at the facility. But employees of the other major operator, Delaware North, are talking potential strike action after contract talks hit a wall.The HMS Host deal covers about 250 employees and bumps wages for cooks and other non-tipped workers by $2 to $3 an hour immediately and includes a formula for annual increases for all classes of workers, according to officials from Unite Here, the union that negotiated the deal.…

A New Orleans bakery that opened nearly two years ago is making a name for itself across the city, and a national food publication is taking notice. Ayu Bakehouse (801 Frenchmen St., 504-302-7985) in the Marigny, earned a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of the most exciting bakeries in the nation. The Bon Appetit team looked at bakeries that are blending techniques and combined different flavors in a way that is fresh for customers in a trend that has been bubbling in the years since the coronavirus pandemic, when many bakers were experimenting to stay afloat. To read the rest of the…

There’s a new restaurant coming to the New Orleans riverfront from one of the city’s largest hospitality groups, as that company is trying to steer a new course.Delacroix Fish Camp & Bar is taking shape on Spanish Plaza, between the Riverwalk Outlets mall and the Canal Street ferry terminal. It will focus on Louisiana seafood and frame sweeping views of the Mississippi River from its glass-lined dining room and large, open-air patio. Delacroix Fish Camp & Bar is new restaurant taking shape on Spanish Plaza in New Orleans with views of the Mississippi River. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com…

A new riverfront restaurant now taking shape in downtown New Orleans is signaling a more public role for the chef behind it, John Besh, nearly seven years after a sexual misconduct scandal saw him all but vanish from the scene. Besh was widely regarded as the leading chef in New Orleans before sexual harassment complaints rocked his company in 2017. He swiftly stepped down from operating the business, part of a raft of changes for the restaurant group, which was renamed BRG Hospitality at that time. But now Besh is becoming a more visible presence as the enterprise embarks on…

Kevin Alker’s family came to New Orleans in 1848 and started a business making oak barrels, which they shipped upriver to whiskey distillers and back to Europe. Generations later, he’s gotten more directly involved in the spirits business by opening the Old Alker Distillery on Oak Street. Old Alker makes bourbon, vodka, gin and some liqueurs, and the distillery’s bar opened Aug. 2. At the bar, Ryan Guillory makes cocktails to highlight the spirits. For more information, visit oldalkerdistillery.com.Gambit: How did you get interested in distilling?Kevin Alker: I had played around making stuff. I don’t think I ever made anything…

No other place on earth can compete with the signature cuisines of New Orleans and dishes such as … [+] crawfish étoufféegetty If you thought guidebooks were obsolete in the digital age, you were wrong. In an era where all things food and culinary have become a national obsession, there is no city as revered for its local cuisines as New Orleans. While you can get great sushi and authentic Italian specialties from New York to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, there is no other city in the nation which comes even remotely close for Cajun and Creole dishes. But…

I wanted to keep this coffee shop a secret for as long as possible, but the cat’s out of the bag and more people are starting to find this not-so-hidden gem on Magazine Street.In a building resembling many others on the street, Trumpet and Drum Coffee House is a beautiful spot for java in the Uptown neighborhood.I found it by chance while walking Magazine Street during Champagne Stroll and made a mental note to check it out as soon as possible. The entrance to the Trumpet and Drum Coffee Shop.  BY CHELSEA SHANNON | Staff writer When I returned and…

If you are planning a trip to Costco in New Orleans this week to pick up a rotisserie chicken, you may want to change your plan. I’m new to the New Orleans area and joined the members-only warehouse late last year when I moved to the Central Business District. I’m a single person, and it doesn’t make sense for me to buy a lot in bulk, but there are certain deals at Costco to me that are worth the cost of the membership.  And the best deal to me, by far, is the $5 rotisserie chicken that’s gone viral on TiKTok. I’m not…

Where are you eating this month? If you’re in New Orleans, maybe it’s at places that offer a sense of escape, or an appreciation for what we have here even through the slog of it, or perhaps dishes that just seem right for the season.That’s what inspired this roundup, a tour of restaurants, meals and particular dishes pulled from my notebook and on my mind as we slide through another hot summer. Here we go:Blue crab handroll of the stars at Sukeban8126 Oak St., (504) 345-2367 Sukeban is an izakaya, a Japanese-style tavern for drinks and hand rolls on Oak…

New Orleans is a city renowned for its vibrant culture, music, and, most notably, its cuisine. Among the many culinary delights, Cajun cuisine is a flavorful and integral part of the city’s identity. Let’s dive into the origins of Cajun cuisine and explore some of the best places in New Orleans to experience this unique culinary tradition. The Origins of Cajun Cuisine Cajun cuisine traces its roots back to the Acadian people, French-speaking settlers expelled from Canada in the 18th century who made their way to Louisiana. These hardy settlers brought a rich culinary tradition, which evolved and adapted to…